The
Superlift 4x4 Adventure Series rolled into Montrose, Colorado
September 15-17, 2000 with activities like a technical seminar,
raffle, good food and trail rides. Sports
in the Rough hosted the event with the Western Slope 4-Wheelers
served as trail leaders. As a club member, I brought up the
rear of eleven 4x4s headed for Cactus Ridge lead by seasoned
trail leader, Sherman Matthiew.

Cactus Ridge
is one of five hard-core trails in the Montrose area. The most
extreme of the trails is Die Trying followed by Topless, Calamity
Canyon, Cactus Ridge and Scratch and Dent. Lockers in both ends
and a minimum of 33" tires are required for the latter
three trails. Die Trying and Topless require at least 35"
tires as well as lockers.

As
the Cactus Ridge group approched the first major obstacle, the
group lost two participants. One wheeler recognized he was in
over his head and another wasn't sure his iron was up to the
challenge. I was impressed with the wisdom of these guys. Montrose
isn't for the inexperienced rockcrawler, and the rocks have
a way of finding any mechanical weaknesses (believe me, I know).

The first
obstacle requires placing the left front tire on a large bolder
while turning right and avoiding losing paint to the rock on
the right as the front left drops off the boulder.

Plenty of
smaller obstacles follow the first major challenge, but two
more major obstacles faced the wheelers. The next major challenge
consists of cresting a large rock to enter an off-camber section
(leans right) of loose dirt with a rut running across the right
side, followed by a rock garden. Everyone in the group successfully
worked their way past this series of obstacles without major
incident.

The
final obstacle is Rattle Snake Falls, named after a small viper
found there during the trail's construction. The approach to
the falls requires working one's way through and around axle-high
rocks while trying to line up for a shot at the falls. This
rock face has a serious pucker factor. Just as the front tires
crest the falls, the rear tire placement results in the left
front tire rising into the air. Smooth, foward motion is necessary
until the rear tires start to climb, lowering the left front.
A couple 4x4s had to be winched, but everyone made it to the
top without incident.

What might
be considered an obstacle by some is found on the road out.
This part of the trail decends steeply over loose dirt and small
rocks. Those chosing 4-low and first gear in the tranny to rely
on engine braking made it down without using the brakes.

The nine
4x4s covered the approximatly 1.5 miles, including the long
hill, in 6.5 hours. The only mechanical problem was a small
glitch with a fuel injection system that was fixed in short
order.

For more
information on the Superlift series check out their website
at www.superlift.com.